DANVILLE, CA -- The Pelican Group reports that five experienced executives have been appointed to high-level sales positions, bolstering the vending management company's national accounts capabilities.

Pelican chief executive Richard Scherer explained that the company's acquisition of Win Stuff has substantially expanded Pelican's client base by adding about 40 major clients. Pelican completed its acquisition of Win Stuff Corp., a national operator of skill cranes, in October. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Laura Allen joins Pelican as director of national sales. She comes to the company from Win Stuff, where she had been vice-president. Prior to her eight-year service with Win Stuff, she had been chief financial officer of Folz Vending, a national bulk vending operation and management company with national clients including Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Safeway, Kroger and Kmart. She is a certified public accountant.

Jim Staffa is named national sales manager. He also comes to Pelican from Win Stuff, and will be responsible for expanding the company's presence in the restaurant channel. He is a 20-year industry veteran, having started his career in 1994 with American Coin Merchandising Inc. (Sugarloaf), which was acquired by Coinstar in 2004. He subsequently worked with National Entertainment Network, and joined Win Stuff in 2012.

Ron Harriman becomes Southwest regional manager. Another Win Stuff employee, Harriman served with company in a variety of posts, most recently vice-president of Western operations. His 25-year career includes experience in manufacturing.

Gavin Fay joined Pelican Group in January as mid-Atlantic regional manager. He has 15 years' industry manufacturing and distribution experience, having worked with Incredible Technologies, JVL Corp. and American Vending Sales.

Jeff McKenney has been appointed lower-Midwest regional manager. He grew up in the vending business, since both his father and his grandfather owned independent operating companies. After completing eight years with the U.S. Army, McKenney joined the family vending business, Kofe Kady Vending (Houston). He then relocated to the Ft. Worth, TX, area and became vice-president and general manager of a local amusement and full-line vending company. He comes to Pelican from Mcliff Coffee & Vending, where he was North Texas branch manager.

Kyle Leigh joined Pelican in December of last year. He served Win Stuff as a financial analyst for 16 years, having responsibility for commission and royalty payments to customers and licensors for Win Stuff and a sister company of Win Stuff. He will apply his experience in this area to his new duties at Pelican Group.

"In order to properly integrate and service Pelican's expanded customer base, it was necessary to enhance our staff of regional and sales teams to ensure our customers receive the attention they are accustomed to," said Pelican executive vice-president Sean Hanna. He added that Pelican provides its clients an "under-one-roof" turnkey solution, supported by more than 685 vending partners.

Pelican Group, a division of Pelican Communications Inc., is a privately owned vending management firm headquartered in Danville, CA. Its 10 satellite offices across the United States serve national and regional customers.